.Thanks 2009

This morning when Air woke me up before he left for work, I think I yelled back at him, "It's New Years tonight!" and then I'm fairly certain that I proceeded to tell him about the game which I had invented in my sleep.

He must've asked me what the game was, because I was telling him it's a type of "group rock paper scissors", where everyone uses both hands and you go around the circle and you can choose to take out anyone else's hand that you'd like; and you'd get certain hidden prizes for each hand that you choose. It was a really good idea at the time. In fact, I think I was dreaming about this game for the entire night. I was trying to figure out who I could get to play it with me...

Funny how that was the most important thing in the world to me this morning...

It's truly amazing how dreams let us escape reality for a little while. But what's even more amazing to me is the fact that I don't even really need an escape from my reality. Sometimes I think my reality is a dream.

Life isn't perfect, but it is so much fun! Being with Air this year has been the best time of my life.

Thank you hunny.


Happy New Year everyone!

2010... the year of the Gusa's? I hope so!

{anyone wanna play rock paper scissors with me?}

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.Christmas Faces

We got spoiled once again this year.

Josh drew my name and got me a cute yellow hoodie (above). Tara drew Air’s name and got him this sweet blue hoodie:

Another highlight gift: Tam got a snuggie from her Grandma… and loved it! haha

But like I’ve said before… my favorite thing about Christmas is seeing people’s faces when they open gifts from me!

My sister Heather and her family down in Utah… getting the gift we mailed down for them: Ker Plunk. They are so cute!

Hi guys!

Air sporting his handsome new church coat from me

Air’s Mom hugging her gift from us: a ‘rain’ shower head and socks

Tessa opening her gift from us: a power adapter for her iPod touch and jewelry

Boy oh boy, those faces make it all worthwhile don’t they!??

Later, after the usual Christmas "lounging around the house for hours playing with our new things" we went sledding! Tons of fun!




We put together this puzzle and played games for the rest of the night. Thanks for sending us the fun puzzle Mom!

Made me miss home just a little :)



I wish this day could last forever. See you next year, Christmas!


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.The eve of the day

On Christmas Eve we thought Air would be working all through Christmas. We were sad, but also grateful that he could get some more hours in while he's out of school for a few weeks.
We were both surprised when he got to go home early and have Christmas off (with pay)! It was so exciting!

So we went down to Beaumont to spend it with the family!

We had tons of good food and then talked about the story of Christ's birth from the scriptures

And frosted cookies

We all drove around and looked at some Christmas lights

We have so much snow! It's crazy!

When we got back home the pajama elf had stopped by with matching pj's for every girl and boy!

**WARNING: there are a lot of cute matching Gusa's from here down**

Can't say I didn't warn you!

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.Dear Elisa,

Hey big sis! Do you remember this?




I found these pictures from 2003. They made me giggle.
I'll miss you this Christmas! I hope you have a really really good one with the family. Tell all of the niece-phews that I love 'em ok?


Love me, Amber

.What it’s about

*nativity display at Temple Square Dec 2008

It’s about this. It’s about everything that He did for us, and the fact that the only way we can give something back to Him is by giving to each other.

Giving a gift to someone and seeing that look of excitement on their face brings so much joy! This year I'm going to bask in the happiness and excitement I see in people's faces when they open gifts. Especially the gifts from me.
I don’t doubt that the joy I feel is just a small reflection of the joy that God feels when he sees us accept his gifts for us with excitement.
I, also, don't doubt that He has given us a lot! A whole lot!

One of those gifts being families

Luckily there were only some minor injuries last year.

On holidays like Christmas I know I have reason to celebrate, but sometimes I don't think about those real reasons as much as I think about all of the other hubbub going on. Those traditional things are really fun and everything... but I think it's important to have more meaning in our lives.

“The unexamined life is not worth living”

.......................................................... ~Socrates

.How Christmas totally redeemed itself

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This Canadian winter so far has been bitter cold. When I step outside I feel my eyeballs and my nose hairs instantly freezing. I don't think I've ever been anywhere so cold and dry. Last week everyone was talking about how low our temperatures in Edmonton had dropped and the fact that we were the coldest city anywhere in North America. Including the arctic! THE ARCTIC!

On top of that, we’ve been struggling over the decision of whether to make the drive down to Utah for Christmas and New Years to be with my friends and family there. We both want to go so badly. But we just decided earlier this week that we can’t make it. Not through this weather. Not with our financial situation. It can’t happen.

I was almost depressed…. {and it takes a lot to make me depressed}

….until we put up all our Christmas decorations. How can anyone be depressed when surrounded by that Christmas glow?? You just can't. That's how.

I had a genius idea last week to have a talent show for our early morning seminary classes on the last day of school before Christmas. Which was this morning. I had this image in my mind of how awesome it would be to discover all of these kids hidden talents and gifts from God.
All I can say is: They didn’t disappoint. It was wonderful. Just absolutely wonderful. I even cried (the usual).

Corey on saxophone. Shania and her mom play flutes.

Shania on flute with Corey on saxophone and Abby on piano. Larissa sings while Melissa plays guitar.

Melissa on guitar. Daniel with K'nex.

Jared with sculptures. Grant on guitar.

Boyd touches tongue to elbow. Grant eats with no hands.

Charissa on piano. Riley talks like Donald Duck.

The only talent we didn't get a picture of was Emily touching her nose with her tongue.
A couple kids gave us Christmas gifts! This gift we’re opening (below) was a really pretty framed scripture about faith on glass from Riley and Rebecca, we got a yummy meat pie from Lizzy, a box of chocolates from Jacob and Sara, and Air got a really nice letter from Karissa.

We love our seminary kids so much!


Once again, I stand amazed at how much God has given us. Those kids don't even know how big of a gift they gave us just by sharing their talents today and showing up for classes every morning.
Christmas is going to be amazing.

And the temperature this weekend has gone up! Hopefully we can make use of all this snow!


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.Tradition!

Air is grateful that I love this movie, ‘The Muppet Christmas Carol’ as much as he does. He told me so. Just now.

Luckily I watched this movie every year before Christmas with my family as a tradition. For us, it just isn’t Christmas without this movie. Without those awesome catchy tunes running through my mind all season. Without all the hilarious Muppet jokes. Without hearing little Tiny Tim the frog say “God bless us, everyone”. It just wouldn’t be the same.

Probably.

Do you already love this movie too? Have you not seen it yet? Do yourself a favor and watch!

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.New Creature

I don't know what it was about this little dinner we had at Sister Nichol's house last week. But ever since then I have seriously been looking at my life and my calling a little bit differently.

Sister Nichol is a really sweet, really cute, really little, older lady in our ward. She invited Air and I to come to dinner at her home with the missionaries. Holy wow! I had no idea how proper and polite someone could be! (Okay, maybe I did... she is pretty much exactly like my Grandma Leary in Utah)

When we sat down at the table the first thing we noticed was the fact that we each had 3 plates in front of us. I think that’s the very same moment that Air and I panicked a little. What are these for? What do I do with so many plates? Sister Nichol said something like “Oh don’t worry if you don’t know what all the plates are for.” So Air relaxed and grabbed a roll and placed it on the plate directly in front of him… big mistake! Sister Nichol quickly corrected him, “Don’t put that there. This plate at the top left is your bread plate”. From then on I just waited to see what she told Air to do before I did anything. ANYTHING. And it paid off.

It was hilarious.

We probably should have thoroughly studied this diagram before dinner

Walking into her home was like stepping back into the 1950's. She has a beautiful and ginormous organ in her living room... only I don't think that was a standard thing in homes in the 50’s either.

I loved every minute of it

Laughing at the missionaries for showing up for dinner an hour late. Hearing Sister Nichol’s interesting life stories. Talking about the gospel and how important it is to her. Hearing her conversion story. Discussing music, family, missionary work. Accepting some really generous gifts. Writing in Sister Nichol's "guest book" (for real). We gathered around the piano and sang a hymn… which reminded me of my family growing up. We loved to sing together around the piano. Something that I miss doing quite a bit.

In seminary (did you think I'd have something else to talk about?) we've been talking about changing ourselves and becoming new creatures again and again throughout our lives. I've been trying to become a new creature, but I seemed to be stuck in a rut. I wanted to show my students that the gospel is precious and something to be passionate about and grateful for. I don't think that my example and teaching method were putting out that message as much as I wanted to. I think I've found a way out now, and I'm extremely happy about that.

I'm finding even more joy in teaching seminary now.

Thank you Sister Nichol.

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